Tri-City Medical Center’s future looked to be the picture of health after more than 600 community and business leaders gave of their hearts and checkbooks at the Tri-City Hospital Foundation’s 2012 Diamond Ball, held Nov. 10 at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad.

In keeping with the evening’s theme, an opportunity drawing invited attendees to win a 1-carat diamond worth $8,000, with the purchase of a glass of champagne. Also sparkling were the silver tablecloths and chairs, as well as the wine, poured for the dinner service by special gala guests, Carlsbad firefighters Joey Gallucchi and Josh Clark.

Serving as emcee was George Chamberlin, money adviser for NBC San Diego and “Money in the Morning” radio host, who kicked off the festivities by announcing 18 new sponsors of the gala.

His acknowledgments included the Diamond Society, which was established to explore the needs of the hospital; the 237th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps; the Tri-City Board of Trustees; and area notables in the crowd such as Carlsbad City Councilwoman Farrah Douglas, Cal State San Marcos President Karen Haynes and 76th Assembly District Rep. Rocky Chavez.

Chamberlin then shared the story of his daughter Sara’s recent brush with cancer, which was treated by Tri-City’s da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, new technology allowing surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures that promote speedy patient recovery. Thanks to the da Vinci system, Sara now enjoys a clean bill of health.

Tri-City Hospital Foundation Board Chairman Kevin Stotmeister spoke next, praising foundation members, beginning with President Tobi Ferguson, as “the philanthropic heart and soul of the hospital.” He then asked trustees to stand and be acknowledged for their dedication.

Stotmeister also bestowed the foundation’s 2012 Legacy Award on Carlsbad-based Life Technologies for that global biotechnology company’s humanitarian work in finding long-term solutions for cancer treatment. The award was accepted by Ron A. Andrews, Life Technologies’ President of Medical Sciences.

In an instructive bar-and-graph presentation, Anderson cited a story by a hospital-review publication recognizing Tri-City as the sixth best hospital in the nation for having one of the lowest readmission rates for heart-attack patients.

“We’re first in San Diego County (in heart care), but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” he said, vowing to push the hospital’s top-performance levels to new areas while maintaining its status in patient-care quality and leadership in new surgical technologies development.

With that, auctioneer Clint Bell revved up the audience with exciting live-auction items, including sailing in San Francisco, a Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, vacation and a trip to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The Diamond Ball Committee was led by Cunneen and Stotmeister and auction chairwoman Valerie Lindholm.

Honorary Committee members supporting the foundation’s vision included Sandee and Bob Carter, Terry and George Chamberlin, Angela and Al Colucci, Carmela and Ernie Follis, Diane and John Haedrich, Barbara Mannino and Syd Harris, Sandy and Carlton Lund, Rear Adm. Richard and Cindy Lyon, Billie and Tom Nunan, Colleen and Larry O’Harra, Sandy and John Todd, Elizabeth and Rudy Van Hunnick and Hap L’Heureux and Beth Hulsart.

Sponsors included Datron Communications, Sandee and Bob Carter and Family, North County Radiology, UT-San Diego and many more. Special thanks were extended to the Issa Family Foundation for helping to underwrite the evening.

To learn more about the foundation’s work, visit
www.tricitymed.org or call (760) 940-5433.